Loom-picker.



No. 649,693. Patented May l5, |900. M. M. LAHUE.

LUUM PICKER.

(Application led Feb. 4, 1898.) @No Modal.)

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LOOM-PICKER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,698, dated May 15, 1900.

Application filed February 4. 1898. Serial No. 669,046. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MOSES M. LAHUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loom-Pickers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the said drawings, Figure lis a perspective showing the best form invwhich I have embodied my improvement in loom-pickers. Fig. 2 is a top view of the loom-picker that is shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a view in horizon tal section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 3 in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the lling-blcck detached.

l designates the body of my improved loompicker, and 2 designates the iillingblock. The filling-block may be composed of any suitable material. For example, it may be of metal, although for some reasons I prefer to utilize the chemically prepared paper which is known as fiber, varieties thereof being known in the arts as laminar fiber, vulcanized fiber, leatheroid, dsc. The body l is formed oit' cloth wound into the form of a closed loop, as shown, the filling-block 2 being received within the opening of the said loop, and a space being provided, as at 4, for the reception of the upper end of the picker stick orpieker-staff, to which the loom-picker is applied in practice. In forming the body l of the loom-picker I employ one or more strips of cloth, such as canvas, the successive layers thereof being united to one another by means of a suitable adhesive, such as glue or the like, which latter serves also, preferably, to join the body and filling-block together. The said adhesive fills or saturates the cloth more or less completely and gives stiffness and firmness to the picker-body. The body is molded into the substantially-rectangular oblong shape that is illustrated in the drawings.

3 designates the striking-face of the loompicker. The filling-block 2, it intervening between the said strikingface and the pickerstick or picker-staff, preferably is a little greater in length or height than the height of the body l, so that it projects above and below, as indicated in the case of the upper end of the filling-block in Fig. l. The fillingblock 2 preferably is `formed on opposite sides th ereoi", at its upper and lower ends, with projecting lips, as 2l 2l, which engage with tho top and bottom edges of the body 1, so as to prevent displacement of the lilling-block relatively to the body and also guard against thc escape of the said lling-block.

My method of making the improved loompiekei-,Which is shown in the drawings,consists in applying the iilling-block 2 to a form that corresponds, substantially, in cross-section in shape and proportions to the picker-stick or picker-staff on which the loom-picker is to be used. W'hile the filling-block is held in place on the said form, a strip or strips of the cloth, the same being of proper width and length, are wrapped around the combined block and form in successive convolutions or layers until the required thickness has been produced. The cloth is prepared for winding by treating it with a suitable glue or cement, and when applied to the combined filling-block and form it is wet or moist and perfectly pliable, so that it is free to be shaped perfect-ly to both. It is caused to fit closely against the three sides of the iilling-block, with which it comes in contact, (see Figs. l and 2,) and by means of the adhesive employed it becomes united firmly to the said three sides and the successive layers or convolutions of the cloth become se cnrely united to one another. The best results are attained by applying the filling-block to a form corresponding substantially in crosssection in shape and proportions to the pickerstick or picker-staff on which the loom-picker is to be used, as aforesaid, inasmuch as when the wet and pliable cloth is wound on to thc combined form and filling-block it assumes at on ce practically the form of the body of the loom-picker, each convolution or layer having exactly the proper length and there bcing perfect contact between all of the successive convolutions or layers of the cloth, which last secures perfect union of the various convoluticns or layers to one another. No starting or separation of one layer or convolution of the cloth from anotherl thereof can occur, as is likely to occur when the cloth is Wound or coiled upon a form of other shape and after Ward bent by compression or otherwise into the oblong rectangular shape which it is re IOO quired to have in order to enable it to receive and lit the lling-block and the upper end of the picker-stick or picker-stai After the winding of the cloth upon the combined form and lling-block the cloth is allowed to dry partially, and then the picker is removed from the form and applied to a second form, which latter is a little smaller in thickness than the filling-block. The picker on this smaller form then is introduced into a press, and the sides of the body 1 are compressed upon the sides of the block. The result of proceeding as aforesaid is perfect attachment or union of one layer or convolution of the cloth to another and also of the body to the filling-block, there being no looseness or play between the body and the filling-block. In use, even after the face 3 of the body 1 becomes cut through from the top edge thereof to the bottom edge thereof by contact with the tip of the shuttle, there will besuch adherence of the inner surfaces of the sides of the body to the surfaces of the filling-block that the said filling-block will be held perfectly.

No nails, rivets, or the like are employed in the construction of myimproved picker, and there is nothing about the latter which after the picker has been in use for a while and has become more or less worn is liable to become detached and thrown among` the Warps to occasion injury and damage. The strength and toughness of the cloth of which the body 1 of the picker is composed are such that there is no liability of portions thereof becoming thrown off among the warps. There is no shrinkage to a picker constructed as described. A loop of leather will change its fit after a while, thereby producing looseness of the picker upon the picker-stick or pickerstaff and causing trouble by interfering with uniformity in the throw of the shuttle. This does not occur with my improved picker.

In some cases it may be desirable to have the filling-block thicker in a direction transversely of the picker than the picker-stick or picker-staff upon which the picker is to be used. Vhen this is desired, I subject the picker to a second compressing operation before the material of the body 1 thereof has become dry. By this second compressing operation the sides of the band or body of the picker-back of the filling-block are compressed somewhat toward each other, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, thereby forming shoulders on the inner surface of the body 1, as at 11 11 in Figs. 2 and 3, which t against the rear side of the filling-block and assist in preventing dislodgment of the block. These shoulders may, if desired,be depended upon to hold the filling-block in place, and the gluing of the body 1 to the filling-block 2 may be dispensed with.

I claim as my invention- 1. The improved loom-picker comprising a lilling-block, as 2, and a body, as 1, inclosing said lling-block, shaped for application to a picker-stick, and composed of a number of layers or convolutions of cloth saturated with an adhesive whereby said layers or convolutions are united to one another and the cloth also is made solid and firm, substantially as described.

2. The improved loom-picker comprising a filling-block, as 2, and a body, as 1, surrounding said lling-block, shaped for application to a picker-stick, and composed of a number of layers or con volutions of cloth saturated with an adhesive and thereby united to one another and to the filling-block and whereby said cloth also is made solid and firm, substantially as described.

3. The improved loom-'picker comprising a lling-block, as 2, having projecting lips at its upper and lower ends, and a body, as 1, surrounding the said filling-block intermediate said lips and composed of a number of layers or convolutions of cloth having an adhesive applied thereto, substantially as described.

et. The improved loom-picker comprising a filling-block, as 2, and a molded body, as 1, surrounding said filling-block shaped for application to a picker-stick and composed of a number of layers or convolutions of cloth having applied thereto an adhesive, the said body having the internal shoulders 11, 11, to hold the filling-block in place, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MOSES M. LAHUE.

Witnesses:

FLORENCE N. STANLEY, HENRY W. COOPER. 

